Hack Wilson and Warren Giles are elected to the Hall of Fame On March 7, 1979, Slugging outfielder Hack Wilson and longtime executive Warren Giles are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Wilson, who had a relatively short career, won four National League home run titles while with the Chicago Cubs. His most productive season came in 1930, when he set an…
At spring training, exhibition season opens with semi-pro and amateur umpires in place of major league arbiters, who are staging a collective holdout which won’t be resolved until a few weeks into the season.
1977 – The Atlanta Braves file suit against Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, challenging the severity of the penalty for tampering charges stemming from their signing of free agent OF Gary Matthews.
1968 – Jeff Kent is born in Bellflower, CA. The former National League MVP bats .292 and averages 24 homers and 100 RBIs during his two seasons in Houston (2003,2004). He also provides one of the most memorable homers in Astros playoff history to win Game 5 of the 2004 N.L.C.S.
1965 – Detroit Tigers manager Chuck Dressen suffers a mild coronary occlusion. He will be sidelined until May 19th. Meanwhile, coach Bob Swift will be acting manager.
1962 – KPRC-AM introduces Gene Elston and Al Helfer as the Colts’ first radio play-by-play team. Loel Passe, a local favorite after his years with the Houston Buffs, is later added to the crew. Although Helfer leaves after the first year, Elston and Passe would be together for the next fourteen seasons. Elston would remain with the club through 1986.
1961 – The Houston Sports Association announces “Colt .45s” as the winner of the “Name That Team” contest. Entries from as far away as Australia came in. Many had suggested “Colts” but the gun, rather than the horse, won out much to the later chagrin of Judge Roy Hofheinz.
1956 – The Players Association accept the owners’ decisions on minimum pay and the World Series television agreement. They seek workman’s compensation coverage. The PA rehire J.M. Lewis as their representative.
Ford Frick announces he favors the legalization of the spitter, claiming it is “a great pitch and one of the easiest to throw.” The Commissioner believes there is nothing dangerous about the banned pitch, and making it legal again would slow down baseball’s increasing offensive statistics.
Bradenton, FL spring training 1954 Hank Aaron, Charlie White and Billy Bruton enjoyed the cooking and hospitality of Lulu Mae Gibson, because they were not allowed to stay with their teammates at the Braves players hotel!!
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!